Water Quality Problems

[The Pike]

Hi Peeps

I have two tanks that have been running for approximately 3 months. I have probably broken every rule in the what not to due stakes!!! Partly due to ignorance and partly due to duff advice.


Tap Water

Amonia 0 mg/l
Nitrate 25 mg/l
Nitrate 0 mg/l
KH 10
PH 7.4


First tank is 80 Litres heavily planted fish all seem fine, and I have had no health problems. It is filtered via a Fluval 4 internal filter. The occupants are:

2 small paradise fish
3 small rainbows
1 small gourami
5 silvertips
4 danio's
4 penguin tetra
3 small queen loach
1 small plec

ammonia 0
Nitrate varies between 25-50 mg/l
Nitrite 1 mg/l
KH 10
PH 7.4
Temperature 24 centigrade


(I do now know this is too many fish for this tank, but I am moving in 8 weeks and will be transfering them to a 6 foot tank)

The second tank is also 80 litres. It is fairly well planted, I have lost a couple of neons out of this tank. It is filtered via standard built in filter. The occupants are:

4 bronze corydoras
2 gouramis
6 red neons
4 blue neons
2 Khuli loach
4 pepper corydoras

ammonia 0.25 mg/l
Nitrate 50 mg/l
Nitrite 4 mg/l
KH 10
PH 7.4
Temperature 24 centigrade

Both tanks have the light on for 12 hours per day. I feed small amounts once per day. I do 15-20% water changes every week and the water is treated with tanksafe solution. I usually clean the filter medium once evry two weeks in tank water, ( although for the first two months I was using tap water DOH!!).


Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[WILDER]

Both need a water change as you have a nitrite reading which should be 0.

 

[The Pike]

Both need a water change as you have a nitrite reading which should be 0.

Should I do large changes or go to daily small changes?

 

[WILDER]

Say a 20% water change.

 

[The Pike]

Say a 20% water change.

I have changed both tanks today! But should I go onto daily changes for a while? Should I stop feeding for a few days?

 

[WILDER]

Cut down on feeding, yes a water change for a few days, good luck.

 

[The Pike]

Cut down on feeding, yes a water change for a few days, good luck.

Thanks for that.

As the tanks are well stocked, would it help to change my routine and do water changes twice a week once they have settled down?

 

[WILDER]

I do two gravel vacs a week with bottom feeders mainly to make sure they are not eating rotting food, plus plec are big waste producers.

 

[The Pike]

I do two gravel vacs a week with bottom feeders mainly to make sure they are not eating rotting food, plus plec are big waste producers.

Nice one!


Thanks again!!

 

[The Pike]

I do two gravel vacs a week with bottom feeders mainly to make sure they are not eating rotting food, plus plec are big waste producers.

OK peeps its over a week later.

My nitrite levels are at zero in both tanks. I have been doing 20% water changes daily and all my fish are looking really good and feeding well. I have cut the food right back and have only been feeding a small amount once a day. Thats the good news.

Bad news is my ammonia levels are reading between 1.0 and 2.0 mg/l. I just cannot get them down. In desperation I even tried an 80% change in one of the tanks, but still no change.

It is getting very frustrating, but as I say the fish look well and are behaving normally.

I do have another two questions as well having read the other topics.

I am currently using gravel, would my cory's and Queen loaches prefer sand?

My plants were bought and have been put in the tanks in pots, is this correct orshould I take them out, (they seem OK but do shed the odd leaf).

Any help would be greatly appreciated